Alternative Health Herbal Tinctures

Alternative Health Herbal Tinctures - What are tinctures, and how do we make them?

What are Herbal Tinctures?


Herbal tinctures are liquid herbs. These mixtures are made by aging an herb in alcohol or apple cider vinegar, resulting in a more potent herb that is easily absorbed into and utilized by the body. Herbal tinctures may also be referred to as extracts.

Alternative Health Herbal Tinctures may be purchased at a local or online health food or herbal supply store. Single herb tinctures are more commonly available that combination liquids. A popular tincture today is Tea Tree Oil. This herb is usually purchased in a small brown bottle with a dropper attached to the lid for ease of use.

The alcohol used for aging herbs to make tinctures is drinking and not rubbing alcohol. A well used form is 190 proof Everclear known to produce excellent results. However, as many people prefer to not use alcohol for producing herbal tinctures, particularly if the remedies will be used for children or babies, Apple Cider Vinegar is substituted.

As alcohol extracts more of the herb's properties than the vinegar, these herbal tinctures for alternative health are considered stronger.

How to make Herbal Tinctures

To create your own tinctures, either dried or powdered herbs are required. You can use single herbs, or create a custom mixture based on your needs. If using dried herbs, you will need about eight ounces per pint of vinegar or alcohol, and roughly four ounces of powdered herb per pint of liquid. If mixing two or more herbs together of course, measure the combined herbs, not add 4-8 ounces of each.

Mix the powdered or dried herbs with your liquid in a bottle - you can simply buy your vinegar or alcohol in pint bottles to keep things simple, then add the herb into that bottle. Shake the bottle at least twice a day for about two weeks. If powdered herbs were used, the tinctures will be ready in about one week.

Herbal Oils

You can use a similar technique to create herbal oils as well. To make oil versions, you will use virgin olive oil and about two ounces of dried or powdered herbs.

Simply add your herbs to a pint of olive oil, then place it in a warm place for at least four days. You can speed the process up by using the stove if you prefer. Combine the herb and olive oil in a pan or double boiler, and heat it gently for two to three hours. Press the oil from your herbs, and add a little bit of Vitamin E to the mixture as a preservative, then store the herbal oil in a glass bottle in your refrigerator.

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approved by the FDA. They should not be taken as medical advice.